Cyber Aggression

Cyber aggression is aggression between individuals that occurs online, usually a one-off occurrence or at most happens only occasionally. Interestingly, when it happens, the aggressor has no power over the target of the aggression or there is no intention to cause harm or distress to the target of the aggression, which possibly explains the frequently heard advice “Don’t tweet when you’re pissed.”
In some cases, however, cyber aggression is rather more sinister, when an individual used an online relationship to deliberately intimidate, emotionally harm, manipulate or exercise power over another person when online.

Workplace cyber-aggression takes place through emails or text messages which are intended to threaten or intimidate. They may also be emails or texts which have offensive content such as sexist or racist material or expressions of religious hatred or homophobia. What is different about this form of aggression, compared to more traditional forms, is that it is not limited to work colleagues but can come from people outside the organisation, or even in the form of spam.

The phenomenon of cyber aggression seems to have originated with teenagers who have grown up with the internet and electronic communication. They have brought this familiarity with them into the workplace and do not appreciate that this workplace cyber-aggression is just as hurtful as any other sort of aggression.

Workplace cyber-aggression is often the result of individuals within the workplace being offended, upset or feeling threatened by problems within the workplace and who resort to this form of virtual communication as a means of retaliation. This action, directed at a person or persons within the organisation, is frequently referred to as flaming. Along with workplace bullying and workplace aggression, workplace cyber aggression can be a symptom of a toxic workplace.